Boris Johnson accused of trying to start new nuclear arms race with warheads plan

The 120-page Integrated Review of Defence was revealed today leading CND’s General Secretary Kate Hudson to ask 'is Boris Johnson actually trying to start a new nuclear arms race?'

Boris Johnson was accused of trying to start a new nuclear arms race after revealing plans to increase the number of UK warheads by 40%.

The biggest defence shake-up since the Cold War sparked rage with its plans to increase nuclear bombs while cutting troops, tanks, warplanes and warships.

The 120-page Integrated Review of Defence raised fears the UK could use a Trident missile in retaliation for a non-nuclear threat, such as a cyber attack.

Boosting the nuclear warhead stockpile from 180 to a maximum of 260 triggered a wave of complaints from Labour and anti-nuclear campaigners.

Kate Hudson, CND’s General Secretary, said: “Is Boris Johnson actually trying to start a new nuclear arms race?

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“Presidents Biden and Putin have just renewed a Treaty to reduce their nuclear arsenals, not increase them. Johnson’s decision to significantly increase Britain’s nuclear arsenal is out of step.

“He needs to stop this dangerous posturing or he will put us all at risk.”

The review said the UK “reserved the right” to use nuclear bombs against aggressors using chemical and biological weapons or “emerging technologies that could have a comparable impact”.

In further announcements to be made in a Government Command Paper next week, Army troops are expected to go from 82,000 to 72,000, and a third of UK Challenger II tanks will be scrapped.

The Royal Navy will lose warships and the RAF warplanes, even though the defence budget has been increased by £24.1billion over four years.

Labour leader Keir Starmer said there was “a very real risk” the Armed Forces would be “stripped back even further”.

He told the Commons: “In the last decade of Conservative government, defence spending and pay for the Armed Forces fell in real terms. Armed Forces numbers have been cut by 45,000.”

The review warns of a “realistic possibility state sponsorship of terrorism and the use of proxies will increase”.

It also warns of terrorists launching a chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear attack by 2030, and of Islamist, Northern Ireland-related, far-right, far-left and anarchist terror threats.

Mr Johnson told the Commons: “The overriding purpose of this review is to make the United Kingdom stronger, safer and more prosperous whilst standing up for our values.

“Our international policy is a vital instrument for fulfilling this Government’s vision of uniting and levelling up across our country, reinforcing the Union and securing Britain’s place as a science superpower and a hub of innovation and research.”

'Face future threats but keep troops'

- Comment, by Col Richard Kemp, Commander of British troops in Afghanistan

The Government is right to focus major funding on new threats like cyber and new capabilities like AI and unmanned systems.

But defence planners, rightly eager to avoid the traditional British sickness of “fighting the last war”, often become dazzled by the new at the expense of the old.

The reality is that not all future enemies will fight in the so-called grey zone.

It is a mistake to cut large numbers of troops, combat planes and warships.

Our major enemies such as Russia, China and Iran watch how we respond to lesser threats and take advantage of any weakness of capability or political will.

As Boris Johnson said yesterday, the US remains our major ally.

When trouble hits, boots on the ground are always the top of their shopping list.

If we can’t produce them, we become less relevant.

The review is also weak on China, favouring trade over pushing back against its global aggression.

Military cutbacks

Britain’s military is facing devastating cuts in next week Command Paper with troops, tanks, ships and planes being axed.

ARMY SOLDIERS (these vary from month to month)

Target now: 82,000

Expected in new cuts: 72,000

TANKS

Challenger II Now: 227

Expected: 151

RAF TYPHOON FIGHTER BOMBERS

Now: 157

Expected: 133

HERCULES TROOP CARRIER PLANES

Now: 13

Expected: None

ROYAL NAVY MINEHUNTERS Now 13

Expected: None

FRIGATES Now: 19

Expected: 17